chapter 11

Harry woke up early, ready for a new day. It had been a few days since their visit to Gringotts, and there had been some changes since that day. They had moved, they were now living in the Potter Townhouse, a beautiful Edwardian house, according to Sirius and Aunt Petunia. The inside was just as beautiful with its open design and light colors. Harry had settled in very well already, as did the others.

Harry rubbed his forehead, where the scar was. What used to be an angry red scar, looking like it was just about to close up – like he got it the day before – was no more than a pale line. It was almost impossible to see if you didn't get really close up, now. He had quite liked it as a kid, felt it made him unique, but when he was introduced to the wizen world, it had become a brand. The brand that marked him as "the Boy-Who-Lived", Harry felt freer without it (he could try different hair styles now). dragging himself out of his deep thoughts, Harry went back to thinking about his new living situation.

They had gotten used to the Potter house-elves and their need to coddle on all of them. They had been alone, with nothing other to do than clean the place, for almost 14 years. Apparently, Harry had lived here with his parents for the first half of his life, before Dumbledore convinced them all that going under the Fidelius charm someplace else was safer. The house-elves loved to have their Little Master back, together with Master Sirius, who lived with the Potters from the summer before their sixth year to the end of seventh, and Master Remus, who was a frequent visitor (stayed almost half the summers in sixth and seventh).

The house-elves were dressed in soft looking (and clean) pillowcases in different colors. Sirius said that they didn't want anything remotely like clothes, so Harry's grandparents had to compromise. The elves have three pillowcases each, that has to be changed and washed regularly (they had tried only using one in the beginning).

Harry came down to already made breakfast waiting, Aunt Petunia and Remus already eating, and talking politely together. Remus, and Sirius, had become use to Aunt Petunia and Dudley, getting to know them better. Harry was happy to say that being in the same room was, no longer awkward and stilted, as it had been before. Harry sat down and joined in the conversation as he also began eating.

Sirius arrived shortly after, stumbling half-asleep into the room, "Hey, Pup, Rem. Hey, Petunia," he mumbled and sat down besides Remus, who graciously plated some food for him.

Dudley was not far behind Sirius and came and sat beside Harry. "Morning…" he said, also looking tired, as he began ladening his plate with food.

"Good morning," Harry answered right before a quiet pop sounded and an elf stood beside the table.

"Letter for Little Master," was said in a squeaky voice, the elf holding out a letter with both hands to Harry, looking up at him with a smile, eyes shining with happiness for being useful.

"Thank you, Colky," Harry smiled down at the elf as he accepted the letter. After a little while and the little elf continued to stare up at Harry adoringly, not showing any signs of popping away, Harry asked "Is there anything else?" kindly.

"Is there anything Colky cans do for Little Master Harry?" the elf asked right away, still staring up at Harry.

"No, I don't think so. I'll call if there is anything I need," Harry said, smiling at Colky, who nodded before popping away.

Harry opened the letter he now saw was from Gringotts. The whole table was looking at Harry, having stopped talking when the elf had first appeared.

Harry quickly and quietly read the letter, "Well, it seems like we will be going to Gringotts today, the Weasley-Prewetts, the Malfoys, and Severus is going there today," he looked up from the letter and at the people around the table.

I finally get to see Fred and George, Harry had done a lot of thinking, and imagining, figuring out what he felt towards the twins. Harry would deny it out of embarrassment, but he had imagined what it would be like kissing them. It had been the final nail in the coffin, and Harry had to admit to himself that he liked both Fred and George like that.

Harry's mind came back to the real world to hear Remus talking. "We're going to have to go there the muggle way," Remus mused, "Floo only works for wizen and squibs," he explained at Harry's questioning face, giving Harry a quirked half-smile.

The Leaky Cauldron was as dark and shabby as it was last time Harry was there, which was only a few days ago. But they weren't here to look at the interior design of the Leaky, no, they were here to take the muggle way into Diagon Alley.

Sirius, as he was still a wanted man, even if Remus had contacted Madam Bones and opened a case, was in his Animagus form. Harry, who had gone through a few changes after the cleansing ritual that got rid of that permanent glamour Dumbledore had put on him, didn't have to disguise himself. With his, now, easily manageable wavey hair and slightly different facial features he glided by people's attention easily. His hair was in fact pulled away from his face, in a kind of comb-over style.

Remus led the way through the pub and into the back alley with the wall leading into the Alley. Right after Remus tapped the wall, it began to move, making Dudley gasp. Aunt Petunia looked a little shocked, like she just remembered how the entrance to Diagon Alley worked, which was probably the case.

"Stick close, we don't want anyone getting lost," Remus said over his shoulder as he began walking forward, Padfoot at his side.

"Come on, you can gawk while we walk," Harry said to Dudley, patting him on the shoulder after he didn't move. It did the trick, and soon Aunt Petunia and Dudley were following Harry, Remus, and Padfoot. Dudley's heads were swiveling around trying to look at everything, the stars in his eyes obvious.

They were quickly exiting the entrance room at Gringotts, following a goblin again through identical corridors. They were at Sharptooth's office before they knew it.

Everyone sat down in front of the desk, Padfoot shifted back to Sirius and sat down on a chair beside the others, "Lord Potter, Lord Black, and Sir Black-Prince-Lupin. It is good to see you again, -" Sharptooth began, "- and this must be your aunt and cousin, Lord Potter, Ms. Petunia Evens and Mr. Dudley Evens," he said, ignoring the shock from all of them at calling them "Evens", instead of "Dursley".

Harry answered first, "Yes, it is good to see you, too, Sir Sharptooth. These are, as you said, my aunt and cousin, but I'm a little confused at you calling them 'Evens', their legal names are still 'Dursley', even if they are going to change it," he said.

Sharptooth just smirked, "They may have changed their names in the muggle world, but they are still Evens to the magical one," he answered. "They are to take the inheritance test, too, are they not?" he asked.

Harry just sighed, he really like to one-up people in knowledge, "Yes, they are going to take the test," Harry smiled in defeat.

Having Aunt Petunia and Dudley write their names on the parchment, they only had a little difficulty with writing with a quill, the sheets were handed back to Sharptooth. "Well, looks like you were right, Lord Potter, they both have a few spells and compulsions on them. Ms. Evens have also been obliviated," Sharptooth said, looking at the parchment, one last time before shouting out in Gobbledegook, "Two to lead to the ritual chambers!"

Aunt Petunia and Dudley was startled by Sharptooth's shout and looked frantically around before looking beggingly at Harry. "Don't worry, he just summoned someone to follow you to the Ritual rooms to have the spells, compulsions, and oblivion cleansed. It won't hurt, you will be sleeping through the whole thing," they didn't look reassured by what Harry said. "I can follow you there if you want, and I'll be there when you wake up."

Harry followed them to the ritual rooms saying one last thing before they went into separate rooms, "Just listen to what they tell you, you only have to lie down in the middle of the circle. Don't worry, it will be fine."

The rituals were quickly done and Harry, Remus, Sirius and Sharptooth were sitting in the hospital-like room waiting for Aunt Petunia and Dudley to wake up. They were having a pleasant conversation when Dudley began to stir.

When Dudley was opening his eyes, Harry greeted him, "Morning, Dudley," he smiled at his cousin, who hesitantly smiled back. Dudley was still shocked that Harry could smile that kindly towards him.

"Hey, Harry," Dudley said back, sitting up in the bed, "Where are we?" he asked looking around the room.

"In the healer wing in Gringotts," was answered by Remus, smiling at Dudley, "Come and sit here while we wait for your mother to wake up. It shouldn't take long." He said, beckoning Dudley to take a seat by the table.

Remus was right, it didn't take long for Aunt Petunia to wake up. "Morning, Aunt Petunia," Harry said when she sat up on her bed. She stared at him for a few seconds before bursting into tears, scaring everyone.

"Mom!" Dudley was the first to her bedside, closely followed by the rest, "Mom, why are you crying?" Dudley asked, panicked. She didn't answer, only kept crying, but they could soon hear that she was saying something. Leaning in a little closer Harry heard her repeating "I'm sorry" over and over again.

It took some time, but she calmed down. Dudley had began hugging her at some point, "I'm sorry," Aunt Petunia said, her voice hoarse.

"Are you okay now?" Harry asked, letting out a relieved sigh when she nodded. "That's good," he said.

Sharptooth suddenly spoke up, "Would Ms. Petunia Evens and Mr. Dudley Evens like to see their inheritance test?" he asked, making everyone remember where they were.

Aunt Petunia cleared her throat before talking, "Yes, please," she said politely. She and Dudley were handed their tests, and everything was quiet for a little while.

"What is a squib?" Dudley suddenly asked, looking up from his parchment.

Harry and Sirius looked at Remus, who sighed before explaining, "A squib is a child born with magic, but do not have the ability to access it. They are similar, but different from muggles. They may not be able to cast spells, or do wand-magic, but they can use the floo-system and do magic like potions." He spoke. Harry didn't know that…

"Well, looks like I am one…" was Dudley's response, making everyone pause.

Aunt Petunia looked up at them, "Me too, it says 'status: squib'," she said before looking down again.

No one knew what to say, so they didn't say anything. They continued to sit in their own thoughts until another thing happened, something that shook Harry and Dudley to their cores, "That old bastard!" Aunt Petunia, forever the perfect housewife, cursed.

"Aunt Petunia!" and "Mom!" were shouted from them, scandalized. Making both Sirius and Remus laugh, even Aunt Petunia smiled at them. But her smile soon fell.

"That man put a compulsion, as it says, on me, dampening my emotions," she said, "It's not strange I had an emotional breakdown when I woke up, it was the first time I fully felt emotions since 1981," she snarked.

"Well, fu…fluff?" Sirius didn't get the full word out before Remus jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow. Spectacular save, Sirius, spectacular… Harry commended.

Sharptooth began talking when Aunt Petunia and Dudley were finished reading through their tests, "Well, now that that is out of the way, would you like me to show you to the meeting room?"

"Yes, I think that would be great, Sir Sharptooth," Remus answered.